1. Draw the PERT chart on the next page using the table below.

(11)

Activity Description Preceding activity Days

A Develop plan - 2

B Assign Tasks - 3

C Obtain Hardware - 6

D Programming A 10

E Install Hardware B 2

F Program Test C 1

G Write User Manual D,E 5

H Convert files G 3

I System Test F 1

J User Training H,I 12

K User Test J 3

2. What is the critical path? (1)

3. How long is the critical path? (1)

Tshwane University of technology is experiencing difficulties with their internet connection for
their academic staff members on campus. You have been tasked as the analyst to perform a
preliminary investigation report to investigate internet access delays and present to it
management. Consider the work breakdown structure (WBS) below and answer the
questions that follow:

Task ID Task Description Duration Predecessor Tasks

(days)

1 Review system request 4 -

2 Review documentation 2 -

3 Contact managers about interviews 2 1, 2

4 Contact interviewees 2 3

5 Plan interview questions 3 3

6 Send out questionnaire 5 3

7 Conduct interviews 2 4, 5, 6

8 Tabulate results 5 7
 9 Prepare preliminary investigation report 6 7

10 Present to management 1 8, 9

1. Create a PERT/CPM chart based on the above WBS on the next page. (10)
2. Provide a critical path of question 1 above. (1)

3. How long is the critical path? (1)

4. Suppose that task 8 has duration of 9 days, what effect will this have on the critical path?
Provide a reason for your answer. (2)

Activity Description Duration(days) Predecessor

 A Evaluate current technology platform 2 -

B Define user requirements 5 A

C Design web page layouts 4 B

D Set up server 4 B

E Estimate web traffic 1 B

F Test web pages and links 4 C,D

G Move web pages to production environment 3 D,E

H Write announcement 2 F,G

I Train users 5 G

J Write report to management 1 H,I

Name all the paths and their durations.

What is the critical path?

Given the following Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) for project
Vaccines on Activity-on-Arrow (AOA) method which contains node ID’s and duration,
convert this back to a table that shows a list of all activities, preceding activity for each
activity and duration. (7)
Answer:

Activity Preceding Activity Duration (months)

Half mark each row with all attributes correct, no mark for first row
7.2 Write down all the paths and their durations and indicate the critical path and its duration
of the PERT chart above? (2)

Path (s) Duration (Months)

6.1. A work breakdown structure (WBS) is the foundation document that provides the
basis for planning and managing project schedule, cost, resources, and changes. Use the
following table on project activities to answer the questions below.

Activity Preceding activity Time ( months)

 A - 3

C A 5

E A 6

G C 5

I E 4

K G, I 5

a) Develop a Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) chart using the AOA
method for the table above. Your PERT chart must show start and finish time. (8)

b) Identify all the paths in your PERT chart above and indicate their duration. (2)

c) In reference to your PERT chart above define the term critical path. NOTE: if no
reference is made to the PERT in your answer you will not get full marks.
(2)

d) Using your PERT chart/ network diagram, created above explain the concept of slack
time in a path.
(2)